Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13,104, John Ferguson, Mass. N.H.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass, N.H.
Herguson, John Ferguson or
13104
CONTENTS
Carded

10,855 Mrs. Ferguson
Paul
18 mo
allm
$60
Chas. H. Gove Goffstown N.H.

10,855
BRIEF in the case of  John Ferguson  of  in the State of  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 75  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Apr or May '75 8 private Gen. Stark Capt. G. Road   March Jan'y '76 2 " Capt. Allen   Aug 2 '76 3 " Capt. Raynel, Genl Stark's   July '77 2 " do do   Aug '81 - Nov 25 '88 3 " Capt. French & Col. Jackson {Lt. Col. Putnam  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Bennington  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Londonderry  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 4 living Witnesses Document  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? all right 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
H. C. Easton Examining Clerk.

No. 5. J. Ferguson 10.855~

STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
County of Hillsborough, SS.
At the Court aforesaid, On the application aforesaid, the following interrogatories were propounded to the said John Ferguson and the following answers given, to wit:
1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Answer, I was born in Pelham New Hampshire August 11th 1787
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it?
Answer, I have a record of my age in a bible. The bible was my grandfather's and my father's since the record, and I have the bible now at home and I think there is a record of my age on the Town Records of Pelham
3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer, I was living at Londonderry New Hampshire when called into the service. Since the Revolutionary war I have lived in Pelham and Dunbarton and now live in Bedford New Hampshire
4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute, for whom?
Answer, I volunteered each time of my enlistment
5. State the names of some of the regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served, such Continental and Militia Regiments, as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service?
Answer, Col John Stark and Gen Warren Capt George Keel at Bunker Hill. Capt Allen at Temple house, Capt Hildreth in my third enlistment Gen John Stark & Col Nichols and Capt Hildreth in my fourth enlistment Capt French Col Putnam & Col Jackson. I don't recollect the number of Regiments I was in the war. I was in the Battle of Bennington where I was taken prisoner and was at the time of a skirmish at Minisink met few
6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
Answer, after my fifth enlistment had ended I received a discharge signed by Enoch Putnam Lt Col and Mr Ferguson Colo which discharge is hereto annexed Dated Nov 25 1781
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution?
Answer, William Moor William Riedell James A. Perkins
Certified by C. H. Hildreth
Register.

STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
County of Hillsborough, ss.
On this Twenty seventh day of August A.D. 1882 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate, now sitting at Anhurst within and for the County of Hillsborough, in the State aforesaid,
John Ferguson aged seventy five years Who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1882. That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That is to say, He enlisted under Capt. John  Head of Concord for eight months . He thinks in the month of May in the year 1775 and marched from Londonderry in New Hampshire to Medford in Massachusetts and was stationed there until after Bunker Hill battle. He was then stationed on Winter Hill until discharged in December 1775. Having served Eight months Capt. Head's company belonged to Col. John Stark's Regiment. He was in the Battle of Bunker Hill . He belonged to Londonderry New Hampshire when he enlisted.
2 d Also He enlisted under Capt. Allen of New Salem for two months . He thinks he enlisted in January in the year 1776, was stationed in Temple near Winter Hill and Having served Two months was discharged the last of March or first of April 1776 after the British left Boston .
3 d He enlisted in August 1776 at Londonderry under Capt. Dwight  Raynolds for three months . He marched from Londonderry through New Hampshire and Connecticut into New York to the north River up river to Fishkill then down north River to Peachkill and stationed there until discharged having served three months from his enlistment.
4 th He enlisted under Capt. Daniel  Raynolds of Londonderry in July 1777 for two months . He marched from Londonderry to Charleston then across Connecticut River into Vermont to Burington and stationed there until a few days before his discharge. He then marched to Still water and discharged having served two months . Capt. Raynolds company was in General Stark's Regiment. That he was in Burington Battle .
5 th He enlisted in August 1778 under Capt. French for three months . He marched through New Hampshire  Connecticut to West Point in New York and was stationed there until discharged Novr 28, 1778 which discharge He has -
John Ferguson

He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity, whatever, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll, of the agency of any State, and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Colman Parker, Judge of Probate John Ferguson
We Thomas Savage, a Clergyman residing in the town of Bedford in the county of Hillsborough aforesaid, and William P. Russell residing in Bedford aforesaid, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Ferguson who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be seventy five years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid,
Thomas Savage
Colman Parker, Judge of Probate William P. Russell
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that after the investigation of the matter, and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them, that Thomas Savage who has signed the preceding Certificates is a Clergyman resident in the town of Bedford and that William P. Russell who has signed the same, is a resident in the town of Bedford and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Colman Parker } Judge of Probate for said County of Hillsborough.
I CHARLES H. ATHERTON, Register of the court, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of John Ferguson for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said court, this twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.
C. H. Atherton
Register of Probate, for said county of Hillsborough.

2617
New Hampshire
John Furguson
of Milford in the State of New Hampshire who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Root of the Regt. commanded by Col. Stock in the New Hampshire line for 15 mo's
N. H. and Mass. *
Records completed Jan 29/16 P
Inscribed on the Roll of N. Hampshire at the rate of - 60 - Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 rd day of Dec r 1832 and Stat Charles F. Dore Jefferson New Hampshire
Allowance to 14th of Sept r 1832 $90.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 1 st Febr y 33 30.00 $120.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. H. Adams Clerk Book D Vol. 1 st Page 155

Rev War
INVALID.
13.104 am
File No. 13.104
John Ferguson Priv. Rev. War
Act: _____
Index :—Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Q 10,855 Mo Ferguson
Chas H Gove Goffstown NH

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Mrs Ferguson which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
_____
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
_____
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Yes
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
Yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
Yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
Yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.”

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
†QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

I Robert Morrison of Londonderry in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire of lawful age on my oath depose and say that in the year 1777 I was drafted with some others to furnish a man to serve as a soldier in the Revolutionary war and it fell to me to serve and I enlisted under Capt Daniel Reynolds of Londonderry in the County and State aforesaid to go to Bannington in Genl John Stark's Brigade and I served the whole of the campaign which I think was three months and that John Ferguson of Bedford in the County of Hillsborough and State aforesaid was a soldier in the same company of Militia with me the whole of the above mentioned campaign and I was regularly discharged Robert Morrison
State of New Hampshire Rockingham ss Augt 18-1832 Then personally appeared the above named Robert Morrison & made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before me John N. Anderson Just Peace
1611

No 3-

I Robert Wilson of Bethel in the County of Rockingham and State of New-Hampshire, aged seventy three years, depose and say that I served as a private soldier in the Revolutionary war, in the year 1776 in the company commanded by Captain Daniel Runnels, and that John Ferguson now present aged about seventy five years, served as a private soldier in the same company at the same time, and was discharged at the same time with me. I think the term of our enlistment was three months Robert Wilson
State of New-Hampshire Rockingham ss August 15 - 1832 Then Robert Wilson made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed was true
Before me
Isaac M c Guire Justice of the Peace

Robert Morrison of Londonderry in the county of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire of Lawful age on my oath depose and say that I served as a private Soldier in the Revolutionary War in the year 1776 in the company commanded by Capt Daniel Hannell, and that John Ferguson of Bedford in the county of Hillsborough and State aforesaid served as a private Soldier in the same company at the same time and was discharged at the same time with me — I think the term of our enlistment was three months
Robert Morrison
State of New Hampshire
Rockingham ss August 18, 1832 Then personally appeared the above named Robert Morrison and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me John N. Anderson Justice Peace
I hereby certify that the above named deponent is entitled to full credit for truth & veracity
John N. Anderson Just Peace

I Thomas Shafford of Pilgrim in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire Gentleman of lawful age on my oath depose & say that men were called for from this town to go to Charlestown in Massachusetts. I do not recollect the year we were called called for, but I distinctly recollect we were there at the time the British left Boston. Capt. Allen commanded the company to which we belonged. I served as Ensign. Capt John Ferguson of Bedford in the County of Hillsborough & State aforesaid came soon after we arrived at Charlestown enlisted under Lieutenant  Gage . If I rightly recollect the time for which we engaged was two months. Capt Ferguson continued to do duty in the Company as long as the rest of the company as & I have no doubt but he served the time out for which he engaged which as I before stated I think was two months. Said Ferguson
Thomas Shafford
State of New Hampshire Hillsborough ss - August 16 th 1832
Then personally appeared the above named Thomas Shafford & made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me Saml Richardson Just. Peace
I hereby certify that the above named Thomas Shafford is entitled to full credit for truth & veracity -
Saml Richardson Just. Peace

I Asa Senter of Windham in the County of Rockingham and state of Newhampshire, aged seventy five years, depose and say, that I was knowing to John Ferguson as serving as a soldier in Capt George Reads company and in Col John Stark's Regiment, in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five, as to the particular time, the said Ferguson served, I at this time cannot particularly recollect. But have a full belief that he served out the full time of his enlistment which was Eight Months
I further say that I am now drawing a Captains pension under the act of one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight
Asa Senter
State of Newhampshire Rockingham ss August 16 th 1832 Then Asa Senter made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed was true
Before me
David Armstrong, Justice of the peace

I Asa Senter of Windham in the County of Rockingham and state of Newhampshire, aged seventy five years, depose and say, that I was knowing to John Ferguson in serving as a soldier in Capt George Reads company and in Col John Stark's Regiment, in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five, as to the particular time, the said Ferguson served, I at this time cannot particularly recollect. But have a full belief that he served out the full time of his enlistment which was Eight Months
I further say that I am now drawing a Captains pension under the act of one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight
Asa Senter
State of Newhampshire Rockingham ss August 16th 1832 Then Asa Senter made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed was true
Before me
David Armstrong, Justice of the peace

I Edmund Fenney of Pelham in the County of State of New Hampshire Willsborough, of Lawful age on my oath depose & say that in the year A.D. 1781 men were called for from Newbury Port in Massachusetts to go to West Point. I engaged for one of them, and John Ferguson of Bedford in the County of Willsborough aforesaid also engaged at the same time. We enlisted for three months & belonged to Captain French's Company. I continued to do duty in the line until I was taken sick & messed with said Ferguson. After I was sent to the Hospital said Ferguson called to see me several times before our times were out. I have therefore no doubt but said Ferguson served in the war of the Revolution at this time for the term of three months
Edmund Fenney
State of New Hampshire Willsborough County ss - August 16 th 1832 Then personally appeared the above named Edmund Fenney & made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true Before me Sam d M. Richardson Just. Peace
I hereby certify that the above named deponent is entitled to full credit for truth & veracity Sam d M. Richardson Just. Peace

State of New Hampshire Secretary's Office, Sept. 4. 1832
I certify that the within named David Armstrong & John Anderson, and Isaac W. Gage are Justices of the Peace for our County of Rockingham and the within named Samuel the Richardson is a Justice of the Peace for our County of Hillsborough duly constituted and sworn and their respective signatures as such their genuine hand writings.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set the Seal of the State.
Ralph Metcalf, Secretary.

This May 6th the Deacons had a meeting after the 25th of March
26 June & 3rd Monday
1864
White Oak
File 13104 John Ferguson H. H.
44-1

1844 The undersigned is the undersigned of the County of ... State of ... do hereby certify that ... In witness whereof ... the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and seal the ... day of ... 1844 Enoch Putnam Jr Cole Comd W. ...